Leaf-stemming machine.



R. MARX & R. J. BOLTZ. LEAF STEMMING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 16. 1914. 1,191;020. Patented-July 11, 1916.

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R- MARX & R. L BOLTZ.

LEAF STEMMING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR; 16. 1914.

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, Patented July 11, 1916.

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, APPLICATION FILED APR- 6; 19'4- 1,1 91 ,020. Patented July 11, 1916.

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R. MARX & n. L BOLTZ. LEAF STEMM-ING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I6, 1914.

Patented July 11, 1916.

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RICHARD MARX AND ROBERT MTARX ASSIGNOR'TO DEFIANCE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PHILADEL J. BOLTZ, or PHILADELPHIA, rEnnsrLvAn-IA; SAID HIA,

LEAF-STEMMING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that we, RICHARD Marx and Bonner J. BoL'rz, both citizens of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Leaf-Stemming Machines, of which the following is a specification.

One object of our invent'on is to provide a novel form of machine for cutting the central stems or ribs from tobacco leaves, it being particularly desired that the construction and arrangement of parts shall be such that the apparatus shall be capable of operation at a relatively high speed and shall be in a large measure automatic.

A further object of the invention is to rovide a stemming machine of such a na-- ture that there shall be no possibility of injury to the operator from the punch or knife and which shall merely require such operator to properly apply the leaves to suction boxes with their central ribs or stems in the proper position relatively to a cut-. ting die, and to remove leaves from the machine. v

\Ve also desire to provide a leaf-stripping machine with novel means for cutting stems from tobacco leaves and for feeding the leaves to the machine, as well as forming them into piles after their stems have been removed, the invention further contemplating novel mechanism for automatically moving a succession of leaf-holding suction boxes under a vertically reciprocating cutter, and thereafter successively manipulating such boxes as to cause the stripped leaves to be formed into a pile.

It is further desired that our invention shall include a novel form of cooperating die, punch and feed table whereby the machine is made safe to operate and damage to the punch or cutter on account of wear of certain of the parts ofthemachine, shall be effectually prevented.

Again, the invention contemplates a novel device for causing tobacco leaves whose stems have been removed to be transferred from the suction boxes to a supporting table and so collected on said table that each of them is subjected less of their number.

These objects and other advantageous Specification of Letters Patent.

" tion on the line 00 tion boxes and its associated parts,

bunches of stemmed .of cams 9 and a third to compression regard- Patented Jul 11, rare.

Application filed April 16, 1314. Serial No. 832,320.

ends we secure as hereinafter set forth, reference belng had to the accompanying drawings, in which LFig. 1 is aside elevation, partly in section, illustrating a leaf-stemming machine constructed according to our invention; Fig.

. 2 is a plan of the machine shown in Fig. 1; sections taken re- Figs. 3 and 4: are vertical. spectively on the lines a-.a and b b, Fig. 1; Figs. 5'and 6 are respectively a vertical sectionandaplan of the rotatable air manifold; Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively an end elevation and a plan illustrating the detail construction of the air cut-off valve for each of the suction boxes; Fig. 9 is a vertical sec- Fig. 7 Fig. 10 is an enlargedtransverse section of one of the sucand Fig. 11 is a vertical longitudinal section on an enlarged scale illustrating the detail construction of the leaf receiving table.

In the above drawings, 1 represents a hollow'box-like frame of substantially rectangular section, open at the top and bottom and, supported on four feet 2. One side of this frame is provided with brackets 3, hav ing bearings fora main shaft 1, to which is fixed a driving pulley 5 and a worm 6, the latter meshing with a worm wheel 7 fixed to a shaft 8 passing through and journaled in bearings carried in opposite sides of the supporting frame 1. Within said frame there are fixed to this shaft a pair cam 10, while a fourth cam,11 is also fixed to the shaft outside of the frame immediately adjacent the worm wheel 7. On the end of the shaft opposite to this worm wheel is fixed a beveled gear 12, meshing with a beveled gear 13 fixed to a shaft 14 carried in bearings 15, and also havingifixed to it a secondbeveled' gear 16, which in turn meshes with a beveled gear 171 This latter gear is keyed'or otherwise fixed to a vertically extendingsh'aft18 supported in bearings provided by brackets 19, which are preferably formedintegral with a plate 20 fixed to frame 1. On the upper 18 is fixed an arm tremity a roller 22.

A pair of colnmns 23 plate at in such position end of this shaft the front face of the 21' carrying at its exface of the flange forming partially over and some distance above the front part of the frame 1,there being a narrow elongated opening in that portion of said plate which is directly over said frame. Rotatably mounted on the plate 24 is a suction table whose central portion is'formed by a flanged sleeve 26 which passes through a central opening of said plate and has fixed to it a flange collar 27, the arrangement being such that the flanges of said sleeve and collar extend parallel with the upper and under faces of the plate, and with it are provided with races for the reception of anti-friction balls as shown in Fig. 3. Also forming a part of the suction table is a flanged ring 28 extending from the outer edge of the plate 24 and also provided with anti-friction balls which reduce to a minimum the friction between it and said plate. This ring and the flanged sleeve 26 are rigidly connected together by four radially extending cradle structures 29, so placed as to extend in line at right angles to each other, and in the present instance bolted to the ring and sleeve to form a single rigid structure rotatable on the plate 24. Bolted or otherwise fixed to the lower edge of the sleeve 26 is a cam plate 30 in whose under face are four radially extending grooves or recesses 31, lying at angles of ninety degrees to each other and designed for the reception of the roller 22 on the arm 21 hereinbefore referred to, the arrangement being such that said arm under operating conditions will engage and cause intermittent rotation of the cam plate 30, and with it of the suction table formed by the sleeve 26, the ring 28 and the cradles 29 with the apparatus carried thereby.

As shown in Fig. 3, there is provided in a cavity in the edge of the plate 24 a spring actuated plunger 32, capable of engaging any one of four cavities 33 in the inner part of the ring 28 and said plunger is so designed that when more than a predetermined turning force is exerted on the suction table, the latter frees itself by forcing the plunger into its cavity, although ordinarily said plunger locks the table in any one of four positions at ninety degrees from each other in all of which one of the cradles lies directly over the opening 25 in said plate 24. In each of the cradles is mounted a suction box 34 (Fig. 10) formed of a hollow casting, whose open top face is closed by a perforated zinc suction plate 35. The box, and especially this zinc plate has the general outline of a tobacco leaf, though it may obviously be made on any convenient or suitable form, and as employed in our invention its bottom is extended inwardly and upwardly to provide a cavity for the reception of the stem-cutting die 36 which has the form indicated in Fig. 10. These cavities in the suction boxes extend longitudinally and are substantially triangular in section, while each of the suction plates is likewise provided with a longitudinal slot 37, whose edges are preferably beveled and caused to slightly overhang the edges of the slot in the box casting. The slot 38 in the die widens from the top downwardly, and preferably has a width and length somewhat greater than the width or length of the stem or mid-rib of the tobacco leaves on which the machine is designed to operate.

The die 36 is carried on. and rigidly fixed to an upwardly extending portion 39 of an elongated frame 40, which is vertically movable within the hollow main frame 1, being provided with a series of rollers 41 op erative on suitable guidcways or tracks extending vertically inside of said main frame on the inner faces of the four sides thereof. The bottom portion of this vertically mov able frameis provided at its two opposite sides with a pair of rollers 42 operatively engaging the two cams 9, which thus support or carry said frame, though a portion of its weight, however, is borne by four springs 43, one end of each of which is attached to its lower portion, while the oppo site end is connected to the upper part of the main frame. The arrangement, there fore, is such that as the cams 9 are turned, they force the die-carrying frame 40 upwardly at certain points of their revolution and thereafter permit it to fall under the action of gravity. tion to its extension 39, has a hollow up ward'ly extending standard 44 projecting laterally over said extension and provided with a vertical guideway for the reception of a punchor knife-carrying head 45, a certain portion of whose weight is supported by a pair of springs 46 within said standard which at their upper ends are connected to the latter and at their lower ends to pins 47 attached to said head.

For reciprocating the head on the standard 44, we provide a lever 48 fulcrumed or pivoted to the frame 40 by a pin or bolt 49 and having the end of its downwardly extending arm provided all times in engagement with the cam 10 on the shaft 8. The second arm of this lever projects upwardly within the hollow of the standard 44, Where it is connected to one arm of a bell crank lever 51, pivoted to said standard by a pin or bolt 52. The second arm of this lever carries a roller directly operative in a suitable guideway provided on the back face of the head 45, as shown in Fig. l. The cam 10 is of that the lever 48 is turned on its pivot 49 at a relatively high speed and thereby causes the punch head 45 to have a rapid down ward movement followed by a similar rapid upward movement, the arrangement being with a roller 50 at such construction Said frame 40, in addij t such that said head thereafter remains in its elevated position for the remainder of the revolution of the shaft 8.

, A knife or push 53 is carried by the head 45 in such position as to cotiperate with the die 36 when this is elevated, and as shown in Fig. 1, said knife consists of an elongated plate which is widest at that end adjacent the standard 44: and carries on its bottom edge a removable punch or cutter in the form of a copper strip 54 having a T- section and tapering in width from the end adjacent the widest end of the plate 53, to the narrower end thereof. In the machine illustrated, the width of said copper punch or shearing member varies from three-sixteenth of an inch at one end to one-eighth of an inch at its opposite end.

In order to automatically discharge the leaves after the stems have been removed, we provide each of the suction boxes 34: at its opposite ends with trunnions or short spindles designed to be rotatably mounted in the ends of the cradles 29, the trunnion 55 at one end of each box being tubular for purposes hereafter noted. The trunnion 56 at the opposite end of each of the suction boxes has fixed to its outer end a small beveled piston 57, designed to be actuated by either of two relatively short racks 58 and 59, of which the first is preferably mounted on an arm 60 fixed to the supporting plate 24 and extended upwardly along side of the suction table at a point thereof about forty-five degrees from the line connecting the center of said table with the center of the die 36. The first rack has its teeth preferably extended downwardly and is of such a length that as eachof the pinions 57 passes under it, it causes a rotation of the same and hence of the suction box 34 attached thereto through an angle of eighty degrees. The second rack 59 is carried on an arm 61 supported from the table 24 in a manner similar to that of the arm 60, though in this instance its teeth proect upwardly so as to be engaged by the under portions of each of the pinions 57, preferably at a point in the path of movement of the suction table about ninety degrees distant from the rack 58. In other words, this latter rack is so placed as to engage each of the pinions 57 as the suction table turns from a position in which the suction box to which it is attached is under the punch head a5 to a position in which such suction is ninety degrees beyond the same, While the rack 59 is placed so as to engage each pinion as its suction box passes from this latter position to a position one hundred and eighty degrees distant from the position occupied when it was under the punch head. Each of the suction boxes has its tubular trunnion 55 connected through a flexible pipe 62 with one branch of a fourtween the under outlet manifold 63, which is mounted to be axially in line with the axis of rotation of the suction table 28 and is connected to a suction pipe 6 1 whose outlet is also axially in line with said axis of rotation.

For connecting the manifold and pipe, we provide a coupling sleeve screwed on to theupper end of the latter and rigidly supported by the arms 19, which also provide bearings for the vertical shaft 18. The

manifold 63 at a suitable point above the 5 coupling 65 is provided with a fixed flange 66, and said sleeve is also provided with a flanged collar 67, the arrangement being such that two sets of antifriction balls are retained in suitable races between the flange 66, the collar 67 and the upper end of the coupling pipe 65.

For cutting off the suction from the suction boxes when this is desirable, we provide each of them with a gate valve 68, so placed as to be capable of closing the inner end of the tubular trunnion, although each valve is normally maintained in an elevated position by a spring 69 upon its spindle 70, which is guided in a bearing structure 71 carried on' the adjacent suction plate. The upper end of the spindle which projects above this guiding bearing is provided with a head 72, and when this head is pressed toward the suction box against the action of its spring, the valve 68 is brought in front of the inlet to the trunnion thereby cutting off the suction from the interior of said box.

At some point immediately under any one of the suction boxes when this is in a position ninety degrees from the plane of action of the punch or knife 54, we provide a table for the reception of the finished. or stemmed leaves, and for supporting said table provide an elongated bracket 7 4L, hung to and extending in a substantially horizontal line beneath, the supporting plate 2-1, at one side of the same. This bracket is provided with a central vertically extending guideway for a rod 75, whose lower end is connected by means of a link 76 to one arm of a lever 77 fulcrumed to a bracket 78 carried by the main frame 1 and so positioned that its opposite end, which carries a roller 79, co-acts with the cam 11 on the shaft 8.

A spring 80 is confined on the rod 75 beside of the bracket 74 and a collar 81, so as to at all times tend to force said rod downwardly. The upper end of the rod 75 carries a horizontal plate 82, which adjacent its four corners is provided with vertical openings forming guideways for legs 83, together supporting a leaf-receiving table 84:, there being springs 87 respectively mounted on these legs between the plate and said table, so as to yieldingly support the latter. The lower ends of the legs 83 are provided with ratchet teeth as shown in Fig. 11 and on suitable lugs extending downwardlyfrom the under side of the plate 82 I mount pawls or dogs 86, each of which is designed to cooperate with the teeth on one of the legs in order to retain it in any given position against the lifting action of the springs 87. Each two opposite pawls 86 are connected by a spring 88, which maintains them at all times in engagement with their co-acting ratchet teeth.

Adjacent each pair of opposite pawls 86, we mount spindles 89 journaled in the lugs 85, and on each spindle we provide a pair, of cams 90. Each cam is so placed as to be capable of operating on one of the pawls to cause it to disengage the ratchet teeth of a leg 88, while for actuating the pawls we provide one of each pair with an extension and connect the latter to an operating rod 91.

Each of the trunnions which carries a pinion 57 has immediately adjacent the latter a square portion 92, one edge of which normally engages and slides upon a circular track 93 carried by the arms and 61, as well as by two other arms 94 supported from the under side of the table 24; at points relatively distant from said two first arms. Obviously, as long as one side of a squared portion belonging to one of the trunnions is in engagement with the upper edge of the track 93, revolution of said trunnion or of the suction box connected thereto cannot occur, and therefore at those points of the track immediately adjacent the two racks 58 and 59, we provide recesses or depressions 95, so that at the times when a pinion is in engagement with either rack, the track is not engaged by the squared portion of the trunnion belonging to said pinion, which is therefore free to revolve, though at other times it is effectually held from turning.

With the above described arrangement of parts, the operator is preferably seated in such position as to conveniently apply tobacco leaves to be stemmed to the suction boxes 34- as these successively occupy a position one hundred and eighty degrees distant around the suction table from the position occupied when they are under the punch head, and a leaf applied to the suction plate with its stem immediately over the slot 37 therein, is held in this position by reason of the suction of air through the perforations in the plate, the exhaust pipe 64: being connected to a suitable suction pump or fan. Power being applied to the pulley 5 turns the shaft 8 through the worm 6 and worm wheel 7, thus also continuously rotating the arm 21 through the gears 12 and 13, shaft 14, gears 16 and 17 and shaft 18. As a consequence, the roller 22 on said arm is caused to enter one of the cam grooves 31 in the plate 30, and thereby give this with the suction table a ninety-degree revolution, after which the revolution of said table ceases and it is locked in a definite position by means of the spring actuated plunger The first suction box with the leaf held thereon is therefore moved to a position ninety degrees distant from that occupied when the leaf was placed and on the next revolution of the arm 21 the suction table and said first suction box are moved to a position immediately under the punch head 45. Shortly after having been brought to this position the roller on the lever 48 is acted on by the cam 10 with the result that the punch head 45 is lowered and the punch or knife 53, co-aeting with the edges of the slot 38 and the die 36, cuts or strips the stem or mid-rib of the tobacco leaf from the body thereof, forcing it into the wider portion of said slot, from whence it falls through the frame 1, or is directed by any suitable means to a receptacle. Obviously, during this cutting operation the cams 9 support the frame t l as a whole and with it the die in an up per position, but immediately after the knife has cooperated with said die to cut out the stem of the leaf, said cams permit said frame to fall to its lower position, thus moving the die downwardly so that it is completely free of the suction box and of the suction table.

During the cutting operation above dcscribed, the suction table has been held rigidly in its proper position'by the spring pressed plunger 82, and while so held an other leaf is being applied to the suction box nearest the operator and diametrically opposite the one having the leaf which was stripped. At the next revolution of the arm 21, the suction table and with it the various suction boxes are turned through a further angle of ninety degrees so that the particu lar suction box carrying the stripped leaf has its pinion 57 moved to engagement with the rack 58. Just previous to its contacting with said rack the squared portion 92 of the trunnion on which this pinion is n1ouuted comes over one of the recesses 95 in the track 93, so that as a result of its co-actien with said rack the suction box is rotated on its trunnions through an angle of one hundred and eighty degrees, the flexible tube 62 being of such a nature as to permit of this partial revolution without injury. Upon moving out of engagement with the rack 58, the pinion and with it the second box are locked with the latter in its reversed position by reason of the reengagement of one side of the square portion 92 of the trun nion with the edge of the track 93, so that the suction table finally comes to rest with the suction plate and the leaf carried there by immediately over the table 84.

While the cams 9 are acting on the rollers 42 to raise the box 34: and insert the die 36 in the cavity of the next succeeding suction box, the cam 11 acts on the lever 77, raising leaf is somewhat the rod 75, the plate 82 and the table 84: and pressing the latter against the leaf which is still held by the inverted suction box. At the same time an upwardly extending bracket 96 carried by the plate 82 is broughtinto engagement with the head 72 of the valve stem 70, thus sliding the gate valve 68 over the opening in the suction pipe 55 and cutting off the air from the suction box. The leaf carried thereby is therefore released from the suction plate and is deposited on the table 84, being carried down with this as the lever 7 7 is turned under the action of the spring 80 when the cam 11 disengages it. After the punch or knife 53 has cut the stem from another leaf and the die 36 has likewise been lowered, another ninety degree movement of the suction table brings the pinion of the reversed suction box into engagement with the rack 59, which turns said box through one hundred and eighty degrees in a direction opposite that in which it was previously moved, the square part 92 of the trunnion at such time being over the second recess 95 in the track 93. The suction box is thus restored to its original position with its suction plate uppermost, and since the downward movement of the plate 82 permitted the bracket 96 to disengage the head 72 of the valve stem 70, the spring 69, by restoring the valve 68 to its open position, again permits the air to be exhausted from the interior of the suction box. Gonsequently, when the latter is finally brought into position one hundred and eighty degrees from the position in which its leaf was acted on by the knife, it is ready to receive and hold another leaf applied by the operator. Thereafter, when the suction table comes to rest after each ninety degree movement, a leaf is applied to one of the suction cut out of the leaf on a second suction box, and the stemmed leaf on a third suction box is deposited on the table 84. As the leaves collect on this table and since the plate 82 is always moved upwardly through the same distance, the springs 87 are compressed each time said table with its mass of leaves is presse against a new leaf carried by an inverted suction box and as said springs yield, the legs 83 on which the table is supported are forced farther through the plate 82, being held in the lowest positions to which they are moved by the pawls. Thereafter as the pile of leaves is pressed against a leaf previous to its delivery from a suction box, this smoothed out by reason of the pressure and when finally such a number of leaves has been deposited on the table as causes the latter to be lowered to a predetermined extent, an outward movement of the rod 91 by the operator so turns the cams 90 on their pivots as to cause the pawls to disengage the ratchet teeth on the rods boxes, the stem is 83. Previous to said release, however, the pile or bunch of leaves is removed from the table so that when said rod 91 is operated, this can move back to its uppermost position ready to receive the first leaf of a new pile or bunch.

From the above description, it will be noted that under operating conditions the machine is preeminently safe to operate, since there is no occasion for the operator to have her hands in the vicinity of the punch or near any other dangerous moving portion of the machine. Moreover, since the die is carried by that portion of the auxiliary frame 4A in which the punch head 45 is movable, the likelihood of the knife not properly co-acting with said die, as the various parts of the machine Wear, is reduced to a minimum, and by employing a copper cutting edge on the punch, the stem is removed from the leaf in the proper manner. When the knife becomes dull it may be sharpened with the expenditure of a minimum of time and labor.

By use of the novel form of leaf-piling means forming part of our invention, the bunches are made substantially uniform in size and condition, so that their subsequent use in the manufacture of cigars is materially facilitated.

We claim 1. The combination in a stemming machine of a table intermittently rotatable in a plane substantially at right angles to its axis; a series of leaf-holding devices carried thereby; and a reciprocatory stemming device mounted to successively remove the stems from leaves carried by said holding devices.

2. The combination in a v stemming machine of a table intermittently rotatable in a plane substantially at right angles to its axis; a series of suction devices carried thereby for holding leaves thereto; a stemming device mounted to successively remove the stems from leaves carried by said holding devices; with a device for receiving the stemmed leaves from said holding devices.

The combination in a stemming machine of a table intermittently rotatable in a plane substantially at right angles to its axis; a series of independent leaf-holding devices carried thereby arranged to hold leaves in a relatively taut condition; a stemming device mounted to successively remove the stems from leaves while they are held by said holding devices; with a device for causing the stemmed leaves to be automatically discharged from said holding devices.

i. The combination in a stemming .machine of an intermittently rotatable table; a series of suction boxes carried thereby for holding the leaves to be stemmed; and a device mounted to successively remove the stems from the leaves carried by said boxes.

5. The combination in a stemming machine of a table intermittently rotatable in a plane substantially at right angles to 1ts axis; a series of independent suction boxes carried thereby for holding leaves to be stemmed; a device mounted to successively remove the stems from the leaves carried by said boxes; With means for causing the stemmed leaves to be automatically discharged from the suction boxes.

6. The combination of means for holding a leaf to be stemmed; a die; a punch mounted to cooperate therewith; means for moving the die into an operative position relatively to a leaf carried by said holding means; and means for thereafter actuating the punch to remove the stem.

7. The combination of a movable table; a leaf-holding device thereon; a die; means for moving the die into an operative position relatively to the holding device at one point of the path of movement thereof; a punch mounted to cooperate with the die; and means for actuating the punch to re move the stem from the leaf carried by the holding device.

8. The combination of a movably mounted suction box; a punch and die for removing the stem of a leaf carried thereby: means for moving the die into a position adjacent a leaf carried by said suction box; and means for thereafter actuating the punch.

9. The combination of a movably mounted suction box having an elongated slot; a die movable into and out of said slot; and a punch movable to cooperate with the die to remove the stem from a leaf positioned on the suction box with said stem over the slot.

10. The combination of a rotary table;'a series of suction boxes carried thereby and each provided with an elongated slot; a die; means for moving said die into the slot of each suction box at a predetermined point of the revolution of the table; a punch; and means for causing the punch to cooperate With the die When the latter is Within the slot of the suctionbox.

11. The combination of a rotary table; a series of suction boxes carried thereby and each provided with an elongated slot; a die; means for moving said die into the slot of each suction box at a predetermined point of the revolution of the table; a punch; means for causing the punch to cooperate with the die when the latter is within the slot of a suction box; with means for intermittently rotating the table through predetermined angles.

12. The combination of a rotary table; means for locking said table in any of a number of predetermined positions; suction boxes carried by said table and each having an elongated slot; a die having a portion shaped to substantially conform to said slot; means for moving said die into the slot of one of the suction boxes when the table is at rest; a punch mounted to co act with the die; and means for actuating the punch when the die is within the slot of the suction table.

13. The combination of a structure for supporting a leaf to be stemmed; a reciprocable structure including a die; means for actuating said structure to bring the die into a positon adjacent the stem of the leaf carried by said supporting device; a punch carried by said structure; and means for causing the punch to co-act With the die when the latter occupies a predetermined position a relatively to the leaf-supporting device. 14. The combination of a supporting frame; a second frame vertically slidable thereon; a die carried by said second frame; a punch also carried by the second frame in position to cooperate with the die; means for actuating the punch; a device for supporting a leaf to be stemmed; and means for moving the second'frame relatively to said device to bring the die carried thereby into a predetermined position relatively to the stem of a lea-f. I

15. The combination of an intermittently rotatable table; a series of suction boxes radially mounted thereon and each having a substantially central elongated slot; a sup porting frame; a second frame movably guided thereby; an elongated die carried by said second frame in a position radially to the axis of revolution of the table; means for actuating the second frame to cause the die to enter the slot of one of the boxes when the latter is at rest; a punch carried by the second frame; and means for causing said punch to cooperate with the die when the latter has been projected into the slot of one of. the suction boxes.

16. The combination of a rotary table; a plurality of rotatable leaf-stripping devices carried thereby; a punch; a die for removing the stems from leaves carried by said devices; means for inverting the de vices after the stems have been removed from the leaves thereon; means for causing discharge of the leaves from the devices while they are inverted; and means for returning the devices to their operative positions.

17. The combination of an intermittently rotatable table; a plurality of suction boxes rotatably carried thereby; means for removing the stems from leaves carried by the boxes; meansfor inverting the boxes after the leaves thereon have been stemmed;

means for causing discharge of leaves from the inverted boxes; and means for thereafter righting the boxes.

18. The combination of an intermittently rotatable table; a plurality of longitudinally slotted suction boxes rotatably mounted thereon; a punch; a die; means for inserting the die in the slot of each box when the latter is in a predetermined position; means for actuating the punch to cut out the stem of a leaf carried by a box, while the die is within the slot thereof; means for inverting each suction box after the leaf carried thereby has been stemmed; means for causing discharge of the stemmed leaves from the inverted boxes; and means for righting the boxes.

19. The combination of a supporting structure; a rotary table adjacent thereto; a track on said structure having cut away portions; a plurality of leaf-holding structures rotatably carried on said table and having portions normally held from rota tion by said structure; means for removing the stems from leaves carried by said holding structures; means for causing partial rotation of the holding structures when they. are adjacent the cut away portions of the track; and means for causing discharge of leaves from the boxes while they occupy their partially rotated positions.

20. The combination of a supporting structure having a track provided with cut away portions; toothed structures supported adjacent said cut away portions; a rotary table carried by said structure; suction boxes rotatably mounted on said table and normally held from turning by the track; means for removing the stems from leaves carrie by the suction boxes; and toothed structures carried by the boxes in position to cooperate with the toothed structures of the supporting frame to first cause reversal and then righting of the boxes; with means for causing leaves to be discharged from the boxes between the times of their reversal and righting.

21. The combination of a rotary table; a series of suction boxes mounted thereon and connected to an exhausting device; means for cutting off the suction boxes; means for stemming leaves carried by the boxes; a device for receiving stemmed leaves from the boxes; and means for automatically actuating the said device to cut off the suction when the boxes are respectively adjacent said receiving devices.

22. The combination of a rotary table; suction boxes mounted thereon and connected to an exhausting device; a cut-0E valve for each box; means for successively stemming leaves carried by the boxes; a receiving table for stemmed leaves; and means for successively actuating said cut-01f valves when the boxes are adjacent said receiving table.

28. The combination of a rotary table; a series of rotatable suction boxes carried thereby and connected to an exhausting de- Gopies of this patent may be obtained for from the several vice; a cut-off valve for each box; a device for stemming leaves carried by the boxes; means for successively inverting each box after the leaf thereon has been stemmed; a receiving table adjacent the path of movement of the boxes after they have been inverted; means for actuating the cut-off valves when the boxes are adjacent said table; and means for righting the boxes after the leaves thereon have been deposited.

24. The combination of a rotary table; a series of suction boxes rotatably mounted thereon; a fixed conduit connected to an exhaust device; a series of flexible conduits movably connected'to said fixed pipe and respectively connected to the several boxes; means for stemming leaves carried by the boxes; means for inverting the boxes; and means for causing discharge of stemmed leaves carried by the boxes while the latter are inverted.

25. The combination of a rotary table; a series of radially mounted longitudinally rotatable suction boxes thereon; a fixed pipe connected to an exhaust device and extending axially of the table; a series of flexible conduits movably connected to said pipe and respectively connected to the suction boxes; means for stemming leaves carried by the boxes; means for successively inverting the boxes after the leaves have been stemmed; means for causing release of the leaves carried by the boxes when the latter are inverted; and means for righting the boxes after such release.

26. The combination in a leaf-stemming machine of a movably mounted structure; a plurality of'suction boxes carried thereby; a yieldingly mounted table for receiving leaves from said boxes; means for periodically moving the table toward the boxes; and means for retaining the table in the position to which it is forced when nearest each box.

27. The combination of a movable structure, a series of suction boxes thereon; a table-supporting member; a leaf receiving table movably mounted on said member; means for moving the table successively toward the boxes; and a pawl and ratchet device for retaining the table in that position to which it is forced by reason of the accumulation of leaves thereon when it is moved toward the boxes.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RICHARD MARX. ROBERT J. BOLTZ.

'lVitnesses WILLIAM E. BRADLEY, WM. A. BARR.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G. 

